Mechanically, the game is difficult, but sound. Great am ounts of work were put into sprite design, too- enemies, NPCs, and Shovel Knight himself are all animated smoothly and naturally, with crisp contrasts to help players identify locations.
Foreground and background alike are carefully painted with pixels in a way that makes them gorgeous and memorable. The artists of the game took care to make each area both visually appealing and completely distinct. The fact is, Shovel Knight stands up on its own merit- it's a solid, fun, and appealing experience throughout. Seriously, though, while Shovel Knight was made to play off that old nostalgia, you don't need any of it to appreciate the game. The consensus among reviewers is that if you were a fan of Megaman or other old 2D platforming titles, this game will give you your nostalgia fix in, well, spades. Shovel Knight is a game much-touted for bringing the pixelated classics of yesteryear back into the public eye. You don't have to be born in the 90's, but it helps!
